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CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Sometimes a simple act can have a far-reaching impact. Tilden “Tim” Parks ‘76 remembers well the day his father took him to his first SIU basketball game.

“I remember my dad bringing me to the SIU arena back when I was in eighth grade,” he said. “From then on, I was hooked — on basketball, football and on SIU.”

Today, this SIU fan is adding to his long-time support by donating an additional $1.3 million to Southern Illinois University Carbondale to provide scholarships for future Salukis.

Parks’ estate gift will be divided into three parts -- $515,000 for journalism, $515,000 for SIU Athletics, and $270,000 for Morris Library. All of the funds will be designated for undergraduate student scholarships.

“This gift is an example of how one person can make a difference to our students,” said Chancellor Carlo Montemagno. “It opens new opportunities that will allow more students to benefit from an SIU education.”

For the love of the game

Parks’ affinity for SIU Athletics is evident in his attendance record for football and basketball games. Parks officially started keeping track of his Saluki sports attendance in 1978, and he’s proud to share that his unblemished attendance streak stands at 218 home football games and 540 men’s home basketball games.

“Tim's extraordinary gift is matched only by his incredible loyalty to the Salukis,” Director of Athletics Tommy Bell said. “His generosity will benefit student-athletes for generations to come."

“At a time when the journalism profession is under stress, it is reassuring when an alum such as Tim Parks makes such a substantial gift to educate the next generation of journalists,” said Kavita Karan, professor and interim director of the School of Journalism.

“I just wanted to give back to the profession from which we have received so much,” Parks said. “My experience as a student in the School of Journalism was a turning point in my life. Much of my joy has come thanks to what I learned and the people while there.”

As an undergraduate, Parks loved getting lost in the stacks at Morris Library, discovering unexpected treasures and helping patrons find the exact book or magazine they were searching for.

“All of my life I have just wanted to help people,” he said. “It’s something I learned from my dad.”

Library Dean John Pollitz recalls that Parks worked on the third floor of the library as a student employee in the 1970s. Parks worked for Pollitz’s wife, Aracely Pollitz, who was the Morris Library student supervisor at the time.

“Like many student workers, his experiences at Morris made a big impact on his life,” Pollitz said. “He recognizes that the student worker experience is so important – important in shaping positive experiences for the student and for the day-to-day operation of a successful library. This gift will continue that great tradition of helping students succeed.”

Helping students

“I believe we are put on this earth to help one another. This gift is allowing me to do just that. I want to help students who are passionate in their education and help them achieve their dreams,” Parks said.

The Tilden Parks Family Scholarship was made in conjunction with the Forever SIU fundraising campaign, to advance the university’s goal of providing the best education possible to students of all disciplines. More information about the campaign is available at foreversiu.org.